Marine scientists and fishermen rarely agree on the status of fish stocks and the science behind it. In a recent project, ESRC set out to find ways to improve cooperation. Marine scientists and fishermen rarely agree on the status of fish stocks, and fishermen are generally sceptical to the way they are calculated and predicted. … Continued
The FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI) adopted international guidelines on the ecolabelling of marine fisheries products, aimed at promoting sustainable and ecologically responsible fisheries, at their meeting in Rome, 7-11 March. The new FAO guidelines set out principles for ecolabelling of products from marine capture fisheries and specify the minimum requirements and criteria for assessing … Continued
The FAO’s Committee on Fisheries met in Rome to discuss pressing issues, including progress towards responsible fisheries, deep sea fisheries and rehabilitating fisheries affected by the December tsunami. The 26th meeting of the Committee on Fisheries (COFI), a subsidiary body of the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), was held in Rome, 7-11 March. … Continued
When EU Fisheries and Agricultural Ministers met on 26 April, a regulation to set up the new EU Fisheries Control Agency was adopted.
In a recent study BirdLife International reports that Regional Fisheries Management Organisations are largely failing in their obligation to reduce seabird bycatch. In a report released 7 March, BirdLife International concluded that Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) are largely failing in their duty to reduce albatross bycatch in longline fisheries. Nineteen of the 21 species … Continued
A conference in Rotterdam on 10-11 November 2004 marked the end of the stakeholder consultation process on the development of a European Marine Strategy. The main purpose of the conference was to discuss: the basic documents for elaborating the Strategy the practical implications of applying the ecosystem approach to provide an integrated management regime the … Continued
On 8-9 November, the Fisheries Secretariat and the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) held a conference in the European Parliament on Sustainable EU fisheries – facing the environmental challenges. Under the patronage of the Dutch Presidency of the Council, the Fisheries Secretariat and the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) held a high level … Continued
The new European Commissioner for Fisheries is likely to be Dr Joe Borg from Malta, a previous Minister of Foreign Affairs. According to himself, he is committed to promoting sustainable fisheries as well as improving the living conditions of fishing communities. On August 12, the new President-designate of the European Commission, José Manuel Durão Barroso, … Continued
After the elections in all EU Member States in June, the new European Parliament opened again in July. The new Chair of the Committee on Fisheries is Philippe Morillon from France, a member of the ALDE group. Following the June 2004 elections in all EU Member States, the “new” European Parliament opened in July. At … Continued
The EU Sustainable Development Strategy, adopted by the Heads of State in Gothenburg in 2001, will be reviewed by the new Commission. The review will assess where the strategy has worked and where it has not, as well as what needs to be done in order to achieve further progress towards long-term sustainable development. At … Continued